CXBN

Cosmic X-ray Background Nanosatellite

Mission type	X-ray astronomy
Operator	MSU
COSPAR ID	2012-048E[1]
SATCAT no.	38762
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	CXBN
Spacecraft type	2U CubeSat
Manufacturer	MSU
Dry mass	2.6kg[1]
Dimensions	10 x 10 x 20cm[2]
Power	15W
Start of mission
Launch date	September 13, 2012 (2012-09-13)[3]
Rocket	Atlas V 401
Launch site	VAFB Launch Complex 3[2]
Contractor	United Launch Alliance
Deployed from	Poly-Picosatellite Orbital Deployer
End of mission
Disposal	Re-entry
Last contact	January 2013 (2013-01)
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Periapsis altitude	460 kilometres (290 mi)
Apoapsis altitude	770 kilometres (480 mi)
Inclination	64°
Instruments
Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) array
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Cosmic X-ray Background Nanosatellite (CXBN) was a satellite and mission developed by the

CXBN was created as a low-cost CubeSat platform to observe the extragalactic cosmic X-ray background and take improved measurements. It had a new gamma ray detector system with its CZT array, which would have potentially provided insight into the early universe's physics.

The CXBN CubeSat occupied a volume of 10 × 10 × 20 cm (3.9 × 3.9 × 7.9 in) when in its compact form. It had four deployable solar panels. Morehead State University (MSU) engineered its subsystems, while the CZT detector was designed by the

CXBN contained a Cadmium Zinc Telluride array to allow for the mapping of the cosmic X-ray background.[2]

CXBN was launched on September 13, 2012 (2012-09-13)^[3] along with several other nanosatellites as part of NASA's Educational Launch of Nanosatellites program on an Atlas V 401 rocket. It was also the 35th launch of the NROL program with a main satellite payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.^[4]

MSU provided support for ground operations with its 21m Space Tracking Antenna.^[2]

CXBN decayed from orbit and re-entered the atmosphere in January 2013 (2013-01). It did not complete its science mission due to an anomaly causing it to go to low power mode.^[3] The signal-to-noise ratio was too low, preventing the ground station from collecting enough data.^[5]

• Brown, Kevin; Rose, Tyler; Malphrus, Benjamin; Kruth, Jeffrey; Thomas, Eric; Combs, Michael; McNeil, Roger; Kroll, Robert; Cahall, Benjamin; Burba, Tyler; Molton, Brandon (2012-08-15). "The Cosmic X-Ray Background NanoSat (CXBN): Measuring the Cosmic X-Ray Background using the CubeSat Form Factor". Utah State University – via DigitalCommons@USU.